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Dec 6, 2012
12/12
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agenda for unrealistically insisting on raising tax rates. the other tax increase that is set to hit american families very hard very soon is the alternative minimum tax. you recall, mr. president, that that a.m.t. tax was created in 1969, and they did that when someone discovered that there were 155 people all across the country, only 155 people who actually had made a lot of money but they didn't pay any taxes on it. and we know why. it was because of various tax loopholes. congress could have done something to close those loopholes, but instead congress created a whole separate tax scheme. then to make matters worse, didn't index the income limits for inflation. so congress comes along every year and acts a patch to keep the tax from hitting the middle class. the problem is it still has done nothing to patch the a.m.t. for this year. so i have another chart here about the millions of people who will owe the a.m.t. come next april, 2011, three million people paid that a.m.t. remember it was designed because of 155 people who didn't pay taxe
agenda for unrealistically insisting on raising tax rates. the other tax increase that is set to hit american families very hard very soon is the alternative minimum tax. you recall, mr. president, that that a.m.t. tax was created in 1969, and they did that when someone discovered that there were 155 people all across the country, only 155 people who actually had made a lot of money but they didn't pay any taxes on it. and we know why. it was because of various tax loopholes. congress could...
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Mar 26, 2012
03/12
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historically high rates of unemployment, and too few jobs. looking at all the evidence on energy prices, it's hard to come to any conclusion other than that high energy prices are part of president obama's plan. the policies he's put in place have intentionally elevated the price of gasoline, much to the detriment of the american consumer. mr. president, i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. menendez: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i rise in support of s. 2204 which is my legislation to repeal big oil subsidies. mr. president, this bill is pretty simple. we end wasteful subsidies to the big five oil companies, and we use those proceeds to invest in clean energy, in creating jobs, and reducing the deficit. i think the american people are sick and tired of paying ridiculously high gasoline prices and then at the -- at the pump and then paying big oil again with our collective taxpayer subsidies, which they get. i think that money is better spent keeping our economy going a
historically high rates of unemployment, and too few jobs. looking at all the evidence on energy prices, it's hard to come to any conclusion other than that high energy prices are part of president obama's plan. the policies he's put in place have intentionally elevated the price of gasoline, much to the detriment of the american consumer. mr. president, i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. menendez: thank you, mr. president. mr....
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Jun 7, 2012
06/12
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campaign got to him, he was for temporarily extend current tax rates. yesterday the democratic senate budget committee chairman came out and said he was for temporarily extending current tax rates. and i would remind everyone it was the president himself in december of 2010 who said you don't raise taxes in a down economy. well, the economy is slower now than it was when he last agreed with us to extend current tax law back in december of 2010. in fact, the rate of growth in our economy is slower now than it was in december 2010 when the president agreed with us that at that point we ought to do a two-year extension of the current tax rates. slower growth now than then. the same arguments apply now. this is the time to prevent this uncertainty and the largest tax increase in american history, right in the middle of a very, very fragile economy. it really doesn't make any sense, mr. president, to do otherwise. let's extend all of the current tax relief right now before the election. let's show the american people we are actually listening to them. let's
campaign got to him, he was for temporarily extend current tax rates. yesterday the democratic senate budget committee chairman came out and said he was for temporarily extending current tax rates. and i would remind everyone it was the president himself in december of 2010 who said you don't raise taxes in a down economy. well, the economy is slower now than it was when he last agreed with us to extend current tax law back in december of 2010. in fact, the rate of growth in our economy is...
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Mar 14, 2012
03/12
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that's a 97% success rate. not bad. the senate confirmed 62 of president obama's circuit and stkrebgt -- district court nominations last year alone. and if you look at president bush and president obama's lower court confirmations when they both had two supreme court appointments for the senate to consider, president obama is doing much, much better than president bush. president bush had a total of 120 lower court judges confirmed in four years, while president obama already had 129 lower court judgeships confirmed in just three years. so president obama has had more confirmations in a much shorter period of time. to the extent that there's anyone here to blame, the obama administration and senate democrats should actually look in the mirror. of the 83 current vacancies, over half of them -- 44 -- don't even have nominees. let me say that again. of the 83 current vacancies, over half of them -- 44 -- don't even have nominees. and as for the minority of the vacancies for which the president has actually submitted a name
that's a 97% success rate. not bad. the senate confirmed 62 of president obama's circuit and stkrebgt -- district court nominations last year alone. and if you look at president bush and president obama's lower court confirmations when they both had two supreme court appointments for the senate to consider, president obama is doing much, much better than president bush. president bush had a total of 120 lower court judges confirmed in four years, while president obama already had 129 lower...
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Jul 18, 2012
07/12
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the obama stimulus program failed. it cost us over $800 billion, and we're going to have to pay that back somehow. but it failed. the unemployment rate for 40 straight months remains above 8%. dodd-frank failed. the affordable care act not only has made health care less affordable and less available, but it has failed to stimulate any jobs. and then yesterday, as a member of the banking committee, i heard testimony and this country heard testimony from the chairman of the federal reserve, and basically what he said is that he has lowered the economic expectations. he and the rest of the federal reserve now say the economy is going to get worse than they expected in january of this year. and the unemployment rate will be above 7%, in his estimation, but -- even at the end of calendar year 2014. that would be six straight years under these current policies, unless we change our approach to job creation. that will be six straight years of unemployment higher than it ever was during the first seven years even of the bush a
the obama stimulus program failed. it cost us over $800 billion, and we're going to have to pay that back somehow. but it failed. the unemployment rate for 40 straight months remains above 8%. dodd-frank failed. the affordable care act not only has made health care less affordable and less available, but it has failed to stimulate any jobs. and then yesterday, as a member of the banking committee, i heard testimony and this country heard testimony from the chairman of the federal reserve, and...
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Nov 29, 2012
11/12
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president obama campaigned on tax increases just on the wealthy, just on raising their rates, just only $800 billion in tax increases. but now the white house is demanding $1.6 trillion in tax increases. don't the american people have a right to see where those taxes fall, who this will impact and how much they are? shouldn't the president lay out his plan? the president of the united states, the only person who represents everybody in the country, will that remain a secret? will it just be revealed to us on the eve of christmas or eve of the new calendar year and we will be asked to vote for it, to ratify it like lemmings, suppose. asrt -- repeatedlys repeatedly asserted they believe in a $2.50 in spending cuts for every $1 in tax hikes, which does not reflect sufficient tax cuts, frankly. i mean, spending cuts. but if the white house now wants $1.6 trillion in new taxes, where is the $4 trillion in spending cuts? have those been laid out? do we know what they would be? this is over ten years. that would be very achievable if we put our mind to it. but in fact the president is -- the p
president obama campaigned on tax increases just on the wealthy, just on raising their rates, just only $800 billion in tax increases. but now the white house is demanding $1.6 trillion in tax increases. don't the american people have a right to see where those taxes fall, who this will impact and how much they are? shouldn't the president lay out his plan? the president of the united states, the only person who represents everybody in the country, will that remain a secret? will it just be...
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Jun 28, 2012
06/12
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president obama called on congress to address the student loan interest rate hike in his state of the union address. back then, many republicans scoffed at the idea. in fact, they voted for budgets that assumed the interest rate would double and they did that without any apparent equivocation. but thanks to students and families across the country who raised their voices and made themselves heard, my colleagues got the message. fixing the student loan interest rate matters, it matters a great deal. it matters to individuals trying to build a better life for themselves, it matters to parents whose dream to give their kids a chance at a better life depends on being able to afford college and matters to our shared economic future because the single most important investment we as a nation can make is to educate our young people. so thanks to groups like campus progress, ussa, the young invincibles, and the rebuild the dream coalition that pushed this issue to the forefront where it belongs. the letters, the emails, the calls, visits, bus tours, and campus rallies made a difference. we sh
president obama called on congress to address the student loan interest rate hike in his state of the union address. back then, many republicans scoffed at the idea. in fact, they voted for budgets that assumed the interest rate would double and they did that without any apparent equivocation. but thanks to students and families across the country who raised their voices and made themselves heard, my colleagues got the message. fixing the student loan interest rate matters, it matters a great...
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Jul 27, 2012
07/12
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jack up your rate or drop you because you get sick or because your care costs too much. for people with hiv and aids, these provisions are absolutely life life saving. leadership matters. two years ago, president obama released the first ever comprehensive hiv/aids strategy in the united states. according to the vision of the strategy, the united states will become a place where new hiv inspections are rare, and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other circumstance, will have better access to high quality, life extending care, free from stigma and discrimination. [applause] together we can manifest that vision if we do the following things. first, we must fully implement the affordability care agent. [applause] this will deliver health coverage to more than 30 million people who are currently uninsured. single chillless adults who -- childless adults, typically not qualifying for medicaid, but under the affordable care act, everyone will have a means to pay for life saving treatment. this
jack up your rate or drop you because you get sick or because your care costs too much. for people with hiv and aids, these provisions are absolutely life life saving. leadership matters. two years ago, president obama released the first ever comprehensive hiv/aids strategy in the united states. according to the vision of the strategy, the united states will become a place where new hiv inspections are rare, and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity,...
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Apr 25, 2012
04/12
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recent comments regarding student loan interest rates. senator alexander, former education secretary under george h.w. bush introduced a new bill to help take the proposed student loan interest rate suspd freeze. objection. mr. durbin: madam president, beginning next month, students from all over the united states will begin from graduating from college. families will will gather and celebrate. graduates will be filled with expectation and gratitude. but they're also going to be graduating with debt n. some cases, massive amounts of debt. 96% of for-profit college students will graduate with a debt of $33,000. 15% of them, one out of six, will default on their loans within two years. there's now more than $1 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. as i mentioned on the floor several times, a little over a year ago for the first time in history, student loan debt in america surpassed credit card debt. one of the reasons there's been such a huge influx is that college costs continue to rise at unsustainable rates. tuition and fees at fou
recent comments regarding student loan interest rates. senator alexander, former education secretary under george h.w. bush introduced a new bill to help take the proposed student loan interest rate suspd freeze. objection. mr. durbin: madam president, beginning next month, students from all over the united states will begin from graduating from college. families will will gather and celebrate. graduates will be filled with expectation and gratitude. but they're also going to be graduating with...
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Mar 12, 2012
03/12
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the "washington post" as a story that says ratings are sliding for obama's jobs on the economy. it says the negative movement has also stalled. a gradual increase as the fall in the president's overall approval rating. at the same time the washington times as a piece that says obama's reelection is one of the rising economy. his reelection prospects for getting a boost from the plunging unemployment rate and a pickup in the economy and financial market this year according to economic and political analysts, and the financial times has a piece this is the upturn in u.s. jobs is lifting the mood. so if you were advising other the president or one of the republican contenders for the presidency, how do you interpret all this data? >> well, first because i'm an economist at think the economy matters. so you know, i think that's key to how the election unfolds for the president and for all incumbents. i think if the economy continues to show improvement over the next six months leading up to the election as it has over the past six months then the economy will be a tail wind for incu
the "washington post" as a story that says ratings are sliding for obama's jobs on the economy. it says the negative movement has also stalled. a gradual increase as the fall in the president's overall approval rating. at the same time the washington times as a piece that says obama's reelection is one of the rising economy. his reelection prospects for getting a boost from the plunging unemployment rate and a pickup in the economy and financial market this year according to economic...
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Jan 23, 2012
01/12
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across the country owes roughly $49,000 in debt, and that's increased by almost 40% since president obama took office in 2009. the unemployment rate in texas while thankfully, gratefully is lower than the national rate, it consistently remains above what it was since the last time the senate passed a budget. the unemployment rate in texas is 20% higher than it was when the administration told texans that its stimulus plan would make sure the national rate would not go above 8%. well, if you even -- if you go back and look at the projections they said it wouldn't go above 8% and by the first quarter of 2012 it would be 6%. clearly they were off the mark and the stimulus failed to meet the administration's own stated goals. my constituents also believe with some justification, that the national debt is a national security risk. admiral mike mullen, former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff has said that the debt is the single biggest threat to our national security. when he said that, that struck me as unusual to have here the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff saying that it is our f
across the country owes roughly $49,000 in debt, and that's increased by almost 40% since president obama took office in 2009. the unemployment rate in texas while thankfully, gratefully is lower than the national rate, it consistently remains above what it was since the last time the senate passed a budget. the unemployment rate in texas is 20% higher than it was when the administration told texans that its stimulus plan would make sure the national rate would not go above 8%. well, if you...
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Feb 1, 2012
02/12
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highest-earning taxpayers pay at least a 30% tax rate. the fair share act would do just that. to call our tax system fair, i believe the highest-income americans should pay a higher rate, not a lower one, than middle-income taxpayers. for more context, let's take a look again, because i have given this speech over and over again on the floor, at how super-high income tax earners fare. this is the helmsley building. it is on park avenue. it is so big, it has its own zip code. because the internal revenue service publishes information about tax payments by zip code, you can see what the tax payments are that come out of this building. and what we find out with the latest information that the i.r.s. has published is that the average filer has an adjusted gross income of over $1 million in the helmsley building, but the average tax payment out of that building is only 14.7%. to provide a little context for that, if you look at what the average new york city janitor or the average new york city security guard pays in terms of of an effective a
highest-earning taxpayers pay at least a 30% tax rate. the fair share act would do just that. to call our tax system fair, i believe the highest-income americans should pay a higher rate, not a lower one, than middle-income taxpayers. for more context, let's take a look again, because i have given this speech over and over again on the floor, at how super-high income tax earners fare. this is the helmsley building. it is on park avenue. it is so big, it has its own zip code. because the...
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Dec 3, 2012
12/12
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agreed with us and gave him the highest rating of unanimously qualified. i'd like to thank senators reid and mcconnell for breaking the logjam so that we could bring this to everyone's attention and commend senator leahy for the swift movement through the committee process. i take the -- i've had the opportunity to recommend several judicial nominees, and take my advise and consent responsibility very seriously. i have four criteria. my nominee must have absolute integrity, judicial competence and temperament, a commitment to core constitutional principles, and i ask for a civic engagement in maryland so they're familiar with the lief and -- life and times of the people they will adjudicate over. i mentioned these standards because often i -- i mention these standards often because i mean it. judge grimm does exactly that. he brings the right hard-working values to the bench and the necessary experience, sharpening his legal skills for many years as a litigator, a judge advocate general lawyer, a j.a.g. officer and indispensable asset to the district court
agreed with us and gave him the highest rating of unanimously qualified. i'd like to thank senators reid and mcconnell for breaking the logjam so that we could bring this to everyone's attention and commend senator leahy for the swift movement through the committee process. i take the -- i've had the opportunity to recommend several judicial nominees, and take my advise and consent responsibility very seriously. i have four criteria. my nominee must have absolute integrity, judicial competence...
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143
Sep 19, 2012
09/12
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what is the unemployment rate in the county and what impact will that haven't turn out in the overall results in november? >> let me speak to ohio in general as alex just it. the reason why president obama is doing so well right now has a number of foundations, the biggest one of which may well be the auto rescue. 450,000 jobs in ohio, and many right here in southwest ohio depend upon the auto industry. the fact that it's come back as strongly as it is actually has a ohio doing better than the national economy is doing. just yesterday we have president obama here in the individual to introduce him came from at the local steel plant that produces a lattice steel for the automobile industry. that means a great deal to middle-class workers and that is successfully speaking to this election campaign. >> steve, could i decide very quickly that it has created a very interesting political this year. the early part of the year i was covering governor romney in places like the rain, ohio where he was campaigning in shutdowns steel mills and manufacturing plants to close. the team, not at all h
what is the unemployment rate in the county and what impact will that haven't turn out in the overall results in november? >> let me speak to ohio in general as alex just it. the reason why president obama is doing so well right now has a number of foundations, the biggest one of which may well be the auto rescue. 450,000 jobs in ohio, and many right here in southwest ohio depend upon the auto industry. the fact that it's come back as strongly as it is actually has a ohio doing better...
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May 23, 2012
05/12
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and president obama in the middle of the weak economy, facing high rates of joblessness, has decided to attack that industry. it's bewildering to me. and industry that pays workers on average $84,156, 1.85 times the national average, has become a victim of the president's desire to pay for his new health spending law. or better put, those workers and the families they support become the victims of the president's health spending law. in my own home state of utah, the device tax is an issue of great importance. there are over 120 medical device companies in my home state of utah. as the utah technology council wrote in a letter to me, these companies -- quote -- "are a vibrant part of the utah economy, providing high-paying, high-tech jobs for citizens of our great state." unquote. they certainly are all of that. they are under assault as a result of this tax. targeted for nothing other than their success and the fact that they were a so-called stakeholder that could pay its so-called fair share to subsidize the president's health spending bonanza. mr. president, i request that that l
and president obama in the middle of the weak economy, facing high rates of joblessness, has decided to attack that industry. it's bewildering to me. and industry that pays workers on average $84,156, 1.85 times the national average, has become a victim of the president's desire to pay for his new health spending law. or better put, those workers and the families they support become the victims of the president's health spending law. in my own home state of utah, the device tax is an issue of...
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120
May 8, 2012
05/12
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don't let the interest rate go up from 3.4% to 6.8%. so today we called a motion to proceed, which literally means that we would begin debate on the student loan interest rate bill to keep it at 3.4% and not let it double july 1. we heard from both sides of the aisle that everyone agreed we had to do this. sounded pretty easy. then the vote was called, and at the end of the vote, not one single republican senator would vote to proceed to the debate on the bill. not one. one senator, senator snowe, voted present. every other republican senator voted no. those who were present voted no. how did this become a partisan issue? we have president obama and governor romney agreeing, most americans agreeing we don't want the cost of student loans to go up and it falls flat on its face on the floor at noon today. not a single republican would vote for it. i don't swro understand it. they say we don't like the way you pay for it. it costs $6 billion to lower this interest rate that we would otherwise collect. well, we pay for it by changing the ta
don't let the interest rate go up from 3.4% to 6.8%. so today we called a motion to proceed, which literally means that we would begin debate on the student loan interest rate bill to keep it at 3.4% and not let it double july 1. we heard from both sides of the aisle that everyone agreed we had to do this. sounded pretty easy. then the vote was called, and at the end of the vote, not one single republican senator would vote to proceed to the debate on the bill. not one. one senator, senator...
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Mar 28, 2012
03/12
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that's one of the reasons why the judicial vacancies rate remains -- vacancy rate remains nearly twice what it was in the first term of george w. bush where democrats moved to move his nominees far far faster than republicans have worked to move president obama's nominees. i ask that my full statement be included in the record. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. leahy: madam president, continuing the time that's been allotted to me, i would ask consent that the following statement appear as though in morning business, but utilizing the time now allotted to me. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. leahy: i'd like to say just a few words about the repeal big oil tax subsidies act. it's a bill i strongly support. it's long past time congress acted to close wasteful tax loopholes for big oil. and by doing that put the money back in the pockets of hard-working americans. over the past ten years, b.p., exxonmobil, chevron, shell, conoco phillips have seen combined profits of nearly $1 trillion. trillion with a t. 1,000 billion dollars. but despite
that's one of the reasons why the judicial vacancies rate remains -- vacancy rate remains nearly twice what it was in the first term of george w. bush where democrats moved to move his nominees far far faster than republicans have worked to move president obama's nominees. i ask that my full statement be included in the record. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. leahy: madam president, continuing the time that's been allotted to me, i would ask consent that the following...
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Sep 10, 2012
09/12
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i was with president obama in iowa a couple of weeks ago when he spoke to a huge group of students at my alma mater, iowa state university. there was a big sign in the back said obamacare. and president obama loond looked at it and said yes, obamacare. he said speaking of himself in the third person, he said yes, obama does care. he said i care about making sure you're covered with preexisting conditions. i want to make sure kids can stay on their parents' policy while they're in college. yes, i want to make sure that the elderly have a good, affordable comaird program. i want to make -- medicare program. i want to make sure people have good preventive systems in america. obamacare. that's what obamacare is, obama cares and he cares very deeply that we have a health care system for all and not just for a few. as has been -- was said by commit president clinton in his speech, he said an american policy based upon we're all in this together is much better than the policy of tough luck, you're on your own. which is the ryan budget philosophy. well, when you get past the political theater
i was with president obama in iowa a couple of weeks ago when he spoke to a huge group of students at my alma mater, iowa state university. there was a big sign in the back said obamacare. and president obama loond looked at it and said yes, obamacare. he said speaking of himself in the third person, he said yes, obama does care. he said i care about making sure you're covered with preexisting conditions. i want to make sure kids can stay on their parents' policy while they're in college. yes,...
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Apr 16, 2012
04/12
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incidentally, president obama's effective tax rate this wreer is 20.-- this year is 20.5%. should he be paying more? or is that enough? he's golt i don't think a toug. here's some other interesting tax facts. the top 1% of taxpayers pays 38% of total income taxes, actually i think these numbers are dated. it is now closer to 40%. and that top 1% of taxpayers only earns 20% of the total income. so here's the question of fairness: you've got the top 1%, now, they are the top 1% because they earn the top 20% of all income, the top fifth. but they pay almost twice as much in taxes. 38% in total income taxes. how about the top 2%? well, they pay 48.68%, nearly 50%, in other words, of income taxes. and they earn 27.95% of total income. so you got the top 2% paying almost half of all income taxes. is that fair? the top 5% pays 58.7%, earns 34.7. the top 10% pays 69.9, let's say 70%. you've got the top 10% of taxpayers paying 70% of all the taxes, earning 45% of the income. those are certainly the wealthy, and they're certainly paying a big share. how about less wealthy? the bottom
incidentally, president obama's effective tax rate this wreer is 20.-- this year is 20.5%. should he be paying more? or is that enough? he's golt i don't think a toug. here's some other interesting tax facts. the top 1% of taxpayers pays 38% of total income taxes, actually i think these numbers are dated. it is now closer to 40%. and that top 1% of taxpayers only earns 20% of the total income. so here's the question of fairness: you've got the top 1%, now, they are the top 1% because they earn...
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97
Nov 28, 2012
11/12
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the -- president obama talked about privetting to arab -- pivoting from asia. this will create another very serious problem. the -- when every defense dollar cut dollar degrades our military read nasa, why should we want -- readiness, why should we want the navy to pay four times for the fuel or in some cases 100 times the amount. where is the navy going to get additional funding to pay its biofuel bill? what is the navy willing to give up in order to pay this bill? what is d.o.d. willing to give up in order to pay the higher fuel bills? they've been talking about this on the other side. however the higher fuel bills is what this section 303 is all about. and we discussed this in the committee. i fully support the -- the efforts that -- make affordable and make sense but biofuels still face challenges in technologies that remain unproven. again, we've a department of energy that is supposed toking doing this. there was a 2011 and report --, rand report, there is no direct benefit to the department of defense and services from using alternative fuels rather than
the -- president obama talked about privetting to arab -- pivoting from asia. this will create another very serious problem. the -- when every defense dollar cut dollar degrades our military read nasa, why should we want -- readiness, why should we want the navy to pay four times for the fuel or in some cases 100 times the amount. where is the navy going to get additional funding to pay its biofuel bill? what is the navy willing to give up in order to pay this bill? what is d.o.d. willing to...
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68
Jan 31, 2012
01/12
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the senator from kentucky says, and don't forget, it was on president obama's watch that a rating agency downgraded the credit rating in the united states. it's true. but if you read the downgrade, it isn't about the state of the economy. it was about the state of politics in washington. we were downgraded by standard & poor's because they believe that we were incapable as a divided government to make important decisions for this nation. how did they reach that conclusion? perhaps it was because this divided government, with the tea party dominance in the house of representatives, had led us into a position in 2011 where we faced two government shutdowns and one shutdown of the economy in the same year. this weakened economy suffering from recession still had to worry about whether the fights between the house and the senate would lead to even more economic peril. that's why we were downgraded. don't blame the president for that. we can blame ourselves at least partially for the downgrade. let me say this too. we know that there is uncertainty about the future. people are still waiting f
the senator from kentucky says, and don't forget, it was on president obama's watch that a rating agency downgraded the credit rating in the united states. it's true. but if you read the downgrade, it isn't about the state of the economy. it was about the state of politics in washington. we were downgraded by standard & poor's because they believe that we were incapable as a divided government to make important decisions for this nation. how did they reach that conclusion? perhaps it was...
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Jan 24, 2012
01/12
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can president obama tonight credibly make a speech saying let's do something together? republicans and democrats. >> not really. [laughter] but i do want to say one thing -- he talked about the laundry list, and you know, there is a defense to be made for the launch of his come and have researched these things, say this is not just blather. president usually make between 30 and 40 specific legislative requests in a state of union, and even in divided government, that's the part where they say and so i'm asking congress to pass a law that will do x and y. even in divided government, about 40% of those tasks within the next year. so if you're listening, this is a blueprint for a lot of significant things that will get done in the year ahead. and they're done by speechwriters who are only partly writers for a process like this. you're really kind of counter therapist, listening to people, pretending to take suggestions, then cutting them out when someone out rank she wants something else, and soothing hurt feelings, and getting everybody to sign off on a speech, including
can president obama tonight credibly make a speech saying let's do something together? republicans and democrats. >> not really. [laughter] but i do want to say one thing -- he talked about the laundry list, and you know, there is a defense to be made for the launch of his come and have researched these things, say this is not just blather. president usually make between 30 and 40 specific legislative requests in a state of union, and even in divided government, that's the part where they...
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Jun 26, 2012
06/12
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you do not go in the situation room unless you have the highest classified rating. so somebody within the situation room who is associated with the national security council obviously is quoting the president. second, the obama aide quoted as to what transpired in the situation room senior administration officials were quoted time and time again in these articles. the national security adviser is quoted as talking about a covert action program. we as members of the intelligence committee can't even confirm whether these programs exist and yet you have the national security adviser talking about a covert action program. three dozen current and former administration officials within the intelligence community were interviewed according to one of the articles. david axelrod who is not a part of the national security team was apparently in the situation room on a number of occasions this is a political and advisor to the president. and then lastly, the deputy national security adviser goes on good morning america and is quoted as saying we have the device talking about
you do not go in the situation room unless you have the highest classified rating. so somebody within the situation room who is associated with the national security council obviously is quoting the president. second, the obama aide quoted as to what transpired in the situation room senior administration officials were quoted time and time again in these articles. the national security adviser is quoted as talking about a covert action program. we as members of the intelligence committee can't...
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Jun 27, 2012
06/12
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here's the economy in the fourth quarter of 2008 before president obama took office, shrinking at a rate of almost 9%, and in the subsequent quarters, it continued to shrink until it began to get better in 2000 -- late 2009, frankly because of stimulus and tarp that helped start to turn things around, and since that time, we have had consistent growth in the economy. not as robust as we would like, but nonetheless consistent growth. a rather remarkable turnaround given how serious the economic downturn was. we also see the same pattern with respect to the private sector jobs picture. again in january of 2009, in one month alone, we lost more than 800,000 jobs. those were private sector jobs. more than 800,000 jobs in a month. again, in about 2009, things began to turn. we got back to growing jobs. in fact, we have had over 4.5 million jobs in the private sector created since the turnaround began. and again, job growth not as robust as we would like but nonetheless quite a remarkable turnaround from where it was. madam president, when we look back at the economic crisis and we look at wha
here's the economy in the fourth quarter of 2008 before president obama took office, shrinking at a rate of almost 9%, and in the subsequent quarters, it continued to shrink until it began to get better in 2000 -- late 2009, frankly because of stimulus and tarp that helped start to turn things around, and since that time, we have had consistent growth in the economy. not as robust as we would like, but nonetheless consistent growth. a rather remarkable turnaround given how serious the economic...
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Apr 25, 2012
04/12
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governor romney supports that, president obama supports that, i support that. the only difference is how we pay for it. it's a $6 billion cost. our friends on the democratic side have come up with their usual method of paying for it, they're going to put a tax on people who create jobs. we have a little better idea on this side. and that is let's take back $6 billion of the dollars that the federal government overcharges students on student loans today to help pay for the health care law and let's give it back to the students, and let's extend this for one year. that will leave about two or three billion dollars extra -- the presiding officer: the senator has two minutes. mr. alexander: thank you. we can use that 0 sho to shore up the pell grant deficit over the next few years. president obama when you visit the next college campus, tell the whole story. it is hard to attend college. it's hard to pay for colleges. there are many options. debt is up. but in fairness, the principal reason tuition is rising and therefore debt is rising is because of president obam
governor romney supports that, president obama supports that, i support that. the only difference is how we pay for it. it's a $6 billion cost. our friends on the democratic side have come up with their usual method of paying for it, they're going to put a tax on people who create jobs. we have a little better idea on this side. and that is let's take back $6 billion of the dollars that the federal government overcharges students on student loans today to help pay for the health care law and...
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Jun 12, 2012
06/12
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additionally, it is projected that with the implementation of this rule consumer electricity rates will skyrocket. we all know that's true, even the president has stated that. i'd like to note that we have support of nearly 80% of the private sector -- those businesses that president obama claims are doing just fine. apparently they don't think they're doing all that fine. american businesses are suffering because of aggressive overregulation by the obama administration. let me take a minute to read the names of just some of the groups who are supporting the -- our efforts to pass s.j.r. 37. the national federation of independent business, the u.s. chamber of commerce, american farm bureau, national association of manufacturers, consumers of america, american chemistry council, association of american railroads, american forest and paper association, american iron and steel institute, the fertilizer institute, western business roundtable, national rural electric co-ops association. that's just part of them. and the unions. the unions are coming, too. i've talked about the businesses and
additionally, it is projected that with the implementation of this rule consumer electricity rates will skyrocket. we all know that's true, even the president has stated that. i'd like to note that we have support of nearly 80% of the private sector -- those businesses that president obama claims are doing just fine. apparently they don't think they're doing all that fine. american businesses are suffering because of aggressive overregulation by the obama administration. let me take a minute to...
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Apr 4, 2012
04/12
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obama wants to do it at a slower rate. now, there's one word that doesn't get talked about enough in the tax code, is loopholes. and my father made a lot of money in his life, and he was trying to teach me how to cash in an office. and the deductions he claimed, he hardly had to pay a thing. >> guest: of course obama did come in during a pretty deep recession. he did come in with a couple of foreign wars which it continues until very recently started some of his own in libby and central africa and elsewhere. so i think antiwar left should be very disappointed as president for that reason. and, of course, he is continue with a lot of bush policies and the civil liberties area that should be a major concern to the left even assassinate a u.s. citizen of our which, of course, had never been done before. but on the economic side, look, the president came in in a weak economy, no question about that but it's since been preside over the week is recovered we've had since world war ii. we should've had a very robust recovery time
obama wants to do it at a slower rate. now, there's one word that doesn't get talked about enough in the tax code, is loopholes. and my father made a lot of money in his life, and he was trying to teach me how to cash in an office. and the deductions he claimed, he hardly had to pay a thing. >> guest: of course obama did come in during a pretty deep recession. he did come in with a couple of foreign wars which it continues until very recently started some of his own in libby and central...
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Jun 29, 2012
06/12
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economy won't be paying higher interest rates next month. students can't wait for the president to get off the campaign trail and actually work with congress to prevent student loan interest rates from rising this year. so while the president continues to ignore the bipartisan proposal sent more than three weeks ago, senate democrats dropped their demand for job-killing tax hikes and worked with republicans to find solutions. it's nice to finally see the senate start to actually work like the senate used to. it proves if this body ignores the campaign attacks from the president and if our democratic friends stop pushing job-killing tax hikes, we can actually get a lot done around here. and i once again want to thank my colleagues for their hard work on this important measure. now, mr. president, on a most important issue brought to the front page the last two days and that is the state of the new obama-care law. two and a half years ago, president obama teamed up with democrats right here in congress to pass a health care bill they knew most
economy won't be paying higher interest rates next month. students can't wait for the president to get off the campaign trail and actually work with congress to prevent student loan interest rates from rising this year. so while the president continues to ignore the bipartisan proposal sent more than three weeks ago, senate democrats dropped their demand for job-killing tax hikes and worked with republicans to find solutions. it's nice to finally see the senate start to actually work like the...
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Dec 12, 2012
12/12
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so president obama is not going to fall for that again. he's been very, very clear. i would hope that as i heard on the news this morning, an interview done by leader pelosi, she says she has hopes that speaker boehner will come around. hoeup that in fact -- i hope that in fact is the case, but to this point there hasn't been a lot of progress, and i'm very, very disappointed. madam president, i want to have -- i ask consent that the record will appear in two different speeches. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: appreciate that. i'm going to talk about joe lieberman. the very, very modest apartment -- no hot water -- where joseph lieberman was raised has long since been demolished, but the values he learned in that little apartment in the flat above his grandparents' house are still there. the same values of devotion and public service has driven him not only to overcome humble beginnings, but to serve the country for 24 years in the united states senate. two years ago, on the day he announced his retirement from the senate, joe lieberman described
so president obama is not going to fall for that again. he's been very, very clear. i would hope that as i heard on the news this morning, an interview done by leader pelosi, she says she has hopes that speaker boehner will come around. hoeup that in fact -- i hope that in fact is the case, but to this point there hasn't been a lot of progress, and i'm very, very disappointed. madam president, i want to have -- i ask consent that the record will appear in two different speeches. the presiding...
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Jul 23, 2012
07/12
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in turkey or if you just see the slaughter accelerate at such a rate that we are more or less obliged to do something. it's possible that if the fsa could get ahold of aleppo and declared a free city to set up an opposition government in aleppo and figure out some way how to stop the armor, the artillery and the planes from driving them out at least for a while, that you could rapidly change the dynamic. and it would certainly be, it would certainly be an interesting game with turkey is the fsa could do it. i don't think they have the wherewithal to do that now but if something like that were to occur, then you could get a benghazi scenario that would have a lot of traction with turkey and might be a compelling argument in washington. >> david can i get you before we get to the audience you're thoughts on the issue of how susceptible the current conflict is to some kind of outside intervention that would actually have a positive shaping influence both on where this conflict goes in the immediate period ahead and what icom after that? >> well, i think a number of people, the rep was an
in turkey or if you just see the slaughter accelerate at such a rate that we are more or less obliged to do something. it's possible that if the fsa could get ahold of aleppo and declared a free city to set up an opposition government in aleppo and figure out some way how to stop the armor, the artillery and the planes from driving them out at least for a while, that you could rapidly change the dynamic. and it would certainly be, it would certainly be an interesting game with turkey is the fsa...
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Aug 1, 2012
08/12
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president obama's budget proposes spending $5.8 trillion. i think it's pretty clear to see in this chart that nobody's proposing net cuts in spending. we're just trying to limit the rate of growth in spending. another way of looking at spending is over ten years. and just quickly, in the 1990's, the federal government over a ten-year period spent $16 trillion. the last decade, from 2002 to 2011, the federal government spent $28 trillion. and again the debate moving forward is over the next ten years do we spend $40 trillion, as the house budget proposes, or do we spend $47 trillion? again, no cuts; just trying to reduce the rate of growth. let's just talk a little bit about what the federal government has spent under the current administration. over the four years of president obama's administration, the federal government in total will spend $14.4 trillion. think back to that last graph. that's almost as much as we spent in the decade of the 1990's. the entire deficit for that time period was $5.3 trillion. in other words, we had to borrow
president obama's budget proposes spending $5.8 trillion. i think it's pretty clear to see in this chart that nobody's proposing net cuts in spending. we're just trying to limit the rate of growth in spending. another way of looking at spending is over ten years. and just quickly, in the 1990's, the federal government over a ten-year period spent $16 trillion. the last decade, from 2002 to 2011, the federal government spent $28 trillion. and again the debate moving forward is over the next ten...
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Sep 20, 2012
09/12
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now the economy is growing at a rate of about 2% a year, and we're gaining about 200,000 jobs a month. that is a dramatic turnaround. so when they ask the question, are we better off now than four years ago? undeniably, we are better off. undeniably we are better off. we've on from an economy shrinking more than 8% to one growing 2%. we have moved from a time we were losing 800,000 jobs a month to a time when we are gaining 200,000 jobs a month. we have gone from a circumstance in which the stock market was plunging to a circuit in -- circumstance in which the stock market whas hast about doubled during -- has about doubled during the time of president president obama. president obama inherit towed wars, a war on terror, a financial system that was collapsing, a financial system that had seen under the previous president the debt double, foreign holdings of u.s. debt were tripled, and this president has ended the slide and got us going back in the right direction. and with precious little help from the other side. mr. president, i ask the american people before they cast their votes t
now the economy is growing at a rate of about 2% a year, and we're gaining about 200,000 jobs a month. that is a dramatic turnaround. so when they ask the question, are we better off now than four years ago? undeniably, we are better off. undeniably we are better off. we've on from an economy shrinking more than 8% to one growing 2%. we have moved from a time we were losing 800,000 jobs a month to a time when we are gaining 200,000 jobs a month. we have gone from a circumstance in which the...
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Apr 24, 2012
04/12
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of western yiewrntion europe, ours own youth unemployment rate has been stubbornly high. that's what happens when you increase regulations on businesses that hire college graduates. that's what happens when you impose health care mandates on them. that's what happens when you impose new labor rules like the one that senator enzi is leading the charge against this week that make it even cost litter for business -- costlier for businesses to hire. and we see the long-term effect of this in europe. unless this president changes course we'll see the same lack of opportunity for young people right here. so today the president will bring his latest poll-tested message to the students at the university of north carolina, and i'll sure he'll give a rerousing speech -- he'll give a very rousing speech. i'm sure he'll also express his strong support for things all of us already agree on. but what he won't talk about is the extent to which the decisions he's made are limiting their opportunities in the years ahead. some of them already see this. i mean, you have to think that most o
of western yiewrntion europe, ours own youth unemployment rate has been stubbornly high. that's what happens when you increase regulations on businesses that hire college graduates. that's what happens when you impose health care mandates on them. that's what happens when you impose new labor rules like the one that senator enzi is leading the charge against this week that make it even cost litter for business -- costlier for businesses to hire. and we see the long-term effect of this in...
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Sep 10, 2012
09/12
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and again, barack obama was not the president of the united states. george w. bush was president of the united states and we had a severe financial crisis. we were on the brink of financial collapse. it takes a long time to dig out from a disaster of that magnitude. mr. president, two of the most distinguished economists in the country, one of whom, by the way, advised john mccain in his most recent presidential race, the other, who is deputy chairman of the federal reserve, did an analysis of what would have happened without the federal response, what would have happened in terms of jobs, and here's what they've found. with the federal response, we got 8 million jobs that we would not have had otherwise. in other words, if there had been no federal response, the red line is what would have happened to jobs. the green line is what happened as a result of federal action. eight million fewer jobs lost than if there had been no federal response. again, this is work that was done by allen blinder, former vice chairman of the federal reserve, and mark zandi, who was
and again, barack obama was not the president of the united states. george w. bush was president of the united states and we had a severe financial crisis. we were on the brink of financial collapse. it takes a long time to dig out from a disaster of that magnitude. mr. president, two of the most distinguished economists in the country, one of whom, by the way, advised john mccain in his most recent presidential race, the other, who is deputy chairman of the federal reserve, did an analysis of...
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Dec 13, 2012
12/12
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under president obama's latest budget proposal, the annual cost of servicing our debt would reach $804 billion in 2022, an amount greater than total u.s. defense spending in 2012. we all know that interest rates are also at historic lose lows because of the action of the federal reserve. and if they were to return to their historic norms, 4% and 5% range, you can see easily how our debt would spin out of control and there would be very little room to spend money either on safety-net programs or on national security. one more point. the president often says his tax increases would merely restore the top tax rates that prevailed when bill clinton was in the white house, but that's demonstrably false. thanks to new taxes under obamacare, including the new 3.8% surtax on investment income, top rates would be significantly higher than they would be under the clinton administration. and, of course, you're not just talking about federal taxes. people in -- all around the country have to pay state, loc local, and federal taxes, many of whom would end up paying the majority of their paycheck in
under president obama's latest budget proposal, the annual cost of servicing our debt would reach $804 billion in 2022, an amount greater than total u.s. defense spending in 2012. we all know that interest rates are also at historic lose lows because of the action of the federal reserve. and if they were to return to their historic norms, 4% and 5% range, you can see easily how our debt would spin out of control and there would be very little room to spend money either on safety-net programs or...
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May 15, 2012
05/12
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widely accepted, widely endorsed by president obama and by governor romney. how about that? both leading contenders for the presidency said don't let this interest rate double. you would think that would be an easy thing to accomplish. what we offered on the floor to the republicans was an opportunity to bring up the measure and they could bring up their amendments to the measure. that i think is what the senate republican leader just asked for. how many republican senators voted with us to bring up the student loan measure subject to amendment? none. not one. so this suggestion that we're in filibuster because we don't offer an opportunity for amendment overlooks what happened last week. the college student loan bill gave ample opportunity to republicans to offer an amendment, and yet they still wouldn't allow us to proceed to that measure. so here's what i suggest. perhaps a cooling off period. perhaps that both sides do sit down and try to work out something that is reasonable. now, some can argue -- and perhaps at times i have argued -- that the senate should be an open
widely accepted, widely endorsed by president obama and by governor romney. how about that? both leading contenders for the presidency said don't let this interest rate double. you would think that would be an easy thing to accomplish. what we offered on the floor to the republicans was an opportunity to bring up the measure and they could bring up their amendments to the measure. that i think is what the senate republican leader just asked for. how many republican senators voted with us to...
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May 14, 2012
05/12
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there are nearly 700,000 fewer women working today than when president obama took office. i don't mean to divide this into gender or any other kind of group, but the reality is that groups in this country suffer when we have poor economic growth, when we aren't creating enough jobs. and if you want to get right down what kind of people are having a problem, here's a situation: 700,000 fewer women working today than when president obama took office. 22.8 million americans remain unemployed or underemployed or are only marginally attached to the workforce. these are 22.8 million americans that could be working productively, and if they were, our economy would be doing much better. and ghast would also be happening -- and guess what would also be happening? people would be earning income and paying income taxes. the government would have more revenue and we would be better able to afford the things that the american people expect of the government. the number of long-term unemployed has increased by 89% under the obama administration. these are the people who have been out of
there are nearly 700,000 fewer women working today than when president obama took office. i don't mean to divide this into gender or any other kind of group, but the reality is that groups in this country suffer when we have poor economic growth, when we aren't creating enough jobs. and if you want to get right down what kind of people are having a problem, here's a situation: 700,000 fewer women working today than when president obama took office. 22.8 million americans remain unemployed or...
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Jun 6, 2012
06/12
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" -- this is what president obama has proposed, remember -- "those higher tax rates would discourage people from working and saving, further reducing output and income." so even the so-called keynesians would admit that there are costs in lower growth if we raise tax rate as the president has proposed. this is, in effect, the most predictable crisis in history. so you have the combination of the c.b.o. report talking about the fiscal cliff, what happens if both the sequestration and the automatic tax increases go into effect, combined with the most recent report about the debt and you can see that the united states is headed for a disaster without intervention by the united states congress and the president. just one -- one last thing. the director of c.b.o. put it this way -- and i quote -- "the explosive path of federal debt underscores the need for large and timely policy changes to put the federal government on a sustainable fiscal course." so what has the president and the democratic majority here in the senate suggested? well, we turn to jay carny, who at a press conference mon
" -- this is what president obama has proposed, remember -- "those higher tax rates would discourage people from working and saving, further reducing output and income." so even the so-called keynesians would admit that there are costs in lower growth if we raise tax rate as the president has proposed. this is, in effect, the most predictable crisis in history. so you have the combination of the c.b.o. report talking about the fiscal cliff, what happens if both the sequestration...
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Nov 14, 2012
11/12
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i will sign up for the clinton era income-tax rates if obama commits to the clinton era spending levels. >> you can't repeal the aging of the population, and it's worth recognizing that the demographic changes ahead of us that millions and millions of americans have become eligible for medicare and social security in the coming years is not something you could ignore, and part of governing is recognizing this basic realities in that context. now that is a good reason to focus very intently how to increase the rate of growth and in the expenditures across the country as a whole but that is one reason that it's different. but again, the level of spending projected in just the president's budget is one example is very modest spending outside entitlements relative to the share of gdp. even relative to clinton for example in the president's budget the level of spending for what's called the non-defense spending is part of the government outside defense and social security. those levels are very low as a share of the economy, so we think we have laid out a pretty sensible balance in this cont
i will sign up for the clinton era income-tax rates if obama commits to the clinton era spending levels. >> you can't repeal the aging of the population, and it's worth recognizing that the demographic changes ahead of us that millions and millions of americans have become eligible for medicare and social security in the coming years is not something you could ignore, and part of governing is recognizing this basic realities in that context. now that is a good reason to focus very...
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Jun 25, 2012
06/12
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the incentive for china is one there's more and more pressure from the g20 president obama made that clear other members of the g20 made it. and secondly, it ultimately becomes uncompetitive. it becomes too costly to try and run those kinds of sort of below market financing schemes and cut-rate and one-off deals. there is a -- may not be immediate as my example of the car dealership. we can't afford. it's not stannel. so i think that china is coming to the understanding they're looking at growth rates moderatedded in china, take looking at -- [inaudible] and so they're looking to also become as part of the wto it is like the u.n. for commercial interest, business interest economic interest. and i think they're looking to find a way farred forward. it's something president obama has been a strong advocate and relentless and focused on that. >> we'll take questions in back. >> john nelson with wall street. we were strategic partners in europe milano. appreciate it. got back from los angeles working with the federal reserve bank in better leverage federal credit enhancement programs. it
the incentive for china is one there's more and more pressure from the g20 president obama made that clear other members of the g20 made it. and secondly, it ultimately becomes uncompetitive. it becomes too costly to try and run those kinds of sort of below market financing schemes and cut-rate and one-off deals. there is a -- may not be immediate as my example of the car dealership. we can't afford. it's not stannel. so i think that china is coming to the understanding they're looking at...
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Jul 18, 2012
07/12
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president obama's tax proposal would save us $800 billion. the department of defense cut over ten years is $600 billion. so the republicans here, almost to a person, are basically arguing that rather than raise taxes on the richest 2% in america at all, we would run the risk of jeopardizing our national security. that's false choice. we can have a strong national defense, and we must. but we can also have a rational approach to reducing our debt. our military is the best in the world. it's the biggest in the world. it is larger than most other nations, the next ten combined, and it's certainly dramatically larger than any potential enemy of the united states. it has kept us safe as a nation, and we want it to continue it to. the men and women are the best who serve us in our military. but we can save money in the department of defense. we can do it and reduce the deficit. what we need from the republican side of the aisle is the willingness that we found in the simpson-bowles commission of a few republicans to step up and say yes. we need to
president obama's tax proposal would save us $800 billion. the department of defense cut over ten years is $600 billion. so the republicans here, almost to a person, are basically arguing that rather than raise taxes on the richest 2% in america at all, we would run the risk of jeopardizing our national security. that's false choice. we can have a strong national defense, and we must. but we can also have a rational approach to reducing our debt. our military is the best in the world. it's the...
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Jul 30, 2012
07/12
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a time when they refused to process four nominees for the fourth circuit, they allowed the vacancy rate to increase by more than 37%. by mid-march 2009, when the first obama judicial nominations were sent to the senate, there were 70 judicial vacancies. over the next three months only five more circuit nominations were sent to the senate. by the end of june when the senate received its first district nomination, there were 80 vacancies accumulated by that time. the failure or delay on so many nominations for vacancies has been the practice of this administration and it system continues to today. by the end of 2009 there were 100 vacancies with only 20 nominees. in december of 2010, more than half of the 108 vacancies had no nominees. at the beginning of this year only 36 nominees were pending for 82 vacancies. and it continues to this day that more than half of the 76 vacancies have no nominees. i just want to remind my colleagues that all of this begins with the white house. so if someone wants to complain about judicial vacancies, they should mail those complaints to 1600 pennsylvania
a time when they refused to process four nominees for the fourth circuit, they allowed the vacancy rate to increase by more than 37%. by mid-march 2009, when the first obama judicial nominations were sent to the senate, there were 70 judicial vacancies. over the next three months only five more circuit nominations were sent to the senate. by the end of june when the senate received its first district nomination, there were 80 vacancies accumulated by that time. the failure or delay on so many...
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Sep 19, 2012
09/12
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and back in january, 2009, when president obama took office, the world economic forum found that the united states had the most -- the number-one most competitive economy in the world. in terms of global competitiveness, the united states was ranked number one. now we have dropped. we have dropped to fifth. this year just recently as i mentioned when they came out with their current rankings, the united states had dropped down to seventh. so in a short four-year time span, we have gone from first in terms of global competitiveness down to seventh. that doesn't speak well for the steps that are being taken here in this country to make america competitive in the global economy, to deal with the problems of spending and debt and the fiscal cliff that's ahead of us. it was interesting to note at the world economic forum, what did they point in terms of their analysis, why did they come to the conclusion that the united states had fallen from first in january 2009, when the president took office, to seventh here this year? well, they pointed out spending, debt, taxes, regulations, red tap
and back in january, 2009, when president obama took office, the world economic forum found that the united states had the most -- the number-one most competitive economy in the world. in terms of global competitiveness, the united states was ranked number one. now we have dropped. we have dropped to fifth. this year just recently as i mentioned when they came out with their current rankings, the united states had dropped down to seventh. so in a short four-year time span, we have gone from...
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Feb 28, 2012
02/12
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similarly, during the first session of the 112th congress, the confirmation rate of president obama's executive branch appointments was only 51%. president george w. bush and bill clinton each had a confirmation rate of over 70% during comparable periods in their presidency. so clearly there have been a change post-clinton, and i think that's what we're talking about. this is not good for the judiciary, it is not good for this body, and it is not good as standard operating practice of the united states senate. it's clear that we're seeing a degree of obstruction that's unprecedented, and that hampers the ability of the judicial and executive branches to perform their constitutional functions. it is preventing us, the legislative branch, from fulfilling the responsibility that we owe to the two other branches of government. in my state, we have three nominees. each for positions the judicial conference has declared to be judicial emergencies. which means extraordinarily heavy caseloads. these should win confirmation without delay. i'll give you one. judge jacqueline nguyen, a nominee f
similarly, during the first session of the 112th congress, the confirmation rate of president obama's executive branch appointments was only 51%. president george w. bush and bill clinton each had a confirmation rate of over 70% during comparable periods in their presidency. so clearly there have been a change post-clinton, and i think that's what we're talking about. this is not good for the judiciary, it is not good for this body, and it is not good as standard operating practice of the...
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Nov 27, 2012
11/12
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of the need to compromise with president obama the journal counseled -- quote -- "this is where mr. norquist can give some ground. if taxes are going up anyway because the bush rates expire and republicans scan canada stop them from going up as much as they otherwise would, pledge takers deserve some credit for that." we disagree with the forms of revenues most republicans have in mind. many of the republicans expressing openness to revenues want to pursue them only through tax reform next year and even then they're only willing to consider limits of deductions as opposed to rate increases on the ver wealthiest. democrats, on the other hand, believe that even if republicans want to kick tax reform into 2013, a significant downpayment on revenues must be enacted before january 1. and we further believe that the fairest, most straightforward way to make that down payment on revenues is by decoupleling the bush tax cuts for the wealthy, limiting deductions is a necessary raising revenue component of a grand bargain but it does not and cannot replace the need for restoring the clinton e
of the need to compromise with president obama the journal counseled -- quote -- "this is where mr. norquist can give some ground. if taxes are going up anyway because the bush rates expire and republicans scan canada stop them from going up as much as they otherwise would, pledge takers deserve some credit for that." we disagree with the forms of revenues most republicans have in mind. many of the republicans expressing openness to revenues want to pursue them only through tax reform...
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Nov 8, 2012
11/12
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give you the lowest unit rate, the cheapest ad rates they have goes to a candidate. of it doesn't go to a super pac. doesn't go to a party. so obama raising $500 million is worth a lot more in terms of ad time than romney and the republican committee and the super pac raising $500 million. the one thing obama couldn't do, as he did in 2008, was expand the playing field. he had raised $200, $300 million more than john mccain and could go into places like indiana and north carolina. this time he didn't need to do that. in fact, he could lose those two and still win with more than 300 electoral votes. but romney, because he was able to match obama dollar for dollar, did have the money -- again, with the help of the outside groups -- to try to make a last ditch effort to go to pennsylvania, michigan, minnesota and expand the playing field for him. the other thing we notice on the money was obama spent a lot of it early. you saw these reports obama's spending more money than he took in, the democratic national committee had far less money in the bank than the republican n
give you the lowest unit rate, the cheapest ad rates they have goes to a candidate. of it doesn't go to a super pac. doesn't go to a party. so obama raising $500 million is worth a lot more in terms of ad time than romney and the republican committee and the super pac raising $500 million. the one thing obama couldn't do, as he did in 2008, was expand the playing field. he had raised $200, $300 million more than john mccain and could go into places like indiana and north carolina. this time he...
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May 22, 2012
05/12
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will dividends be taxed at 15% or will dividends be taxed at 39.6%, as president obama has proposed? will there be a death tax that hits family businesses and farms with a maximum rate of 55% or of 35% or of something else? and what will happen to the alternative minimum tax? will it be patched? will it be reformed? will it be repealed? will it just be replaced with higher taxes somewhere else? the president and the senate democratic leadership have shown no willing misto answer these questions and provide the certainty that our economy craves. the adverse impact of these tax increases on economic growth is unquestioned. but don't take my word for it. it's been reported by federal reserve chairman ben bernanke -- it has been reported that federal reserve chairman ben bernanke recently discussed with senate democrats the significance of taxmageddon. chairman bernanke warned that monetary policy would not be capable of offsetting the decline in economic growth. just last month th the fed's policy-setting committee repeatedly warned in minutes of their meeting that fiscal uncertainty ha
will dividends be taxed at 15% or will dividends be taxed at 39.6%, as president obama has proposed? will there be a death tax that hits family businesses and farms with a maximum rate of 55% or of 35% or of something else? and what will happen to the alternative minimum tax? will it be patched? will it be reformed? will it be repealed? will it just be replaced with higher taxes somewhere else? the president and the senate democratic leadership have shown no willing misto answer these questions...
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May 24, 2012
05/12
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president obama says he wants to freeze the rate for a year. governor romney says he wants to freeze the rate for a year. the house of representatives has voted to freeze the rate for a year. a vote "yes" on the house-passed bill will permit us to send it to the president and he signs it and we solve the problem. the presiding officer: the senator from iowa. mr. harkin: mr. president, while appreciate the compliments he and the minority leader has in senator enzi's and my ability to get things done, what they are sproapg that we totally end, totally eliminate all the of the prevention and wellness money that we have out there in the wellness fund. what would this do? we got vaccinations for children, i am munizations, smoking cessation programs, colorectal screening, diabetes prevention, breast cancer screening, all funded by this prevention and wellness fund. none one of them would be funded from that fund if that amendment passed. so the choice is very clear on the two amendments that we have coming up. we can either vote to close a tax looph
president obama says he wants to freeze the rate for a year. governor romney says he wants to freeze the rate for a year. the house of representatives has voted to freeze the rate for a year. a vote "yes" on the house-passed bill will permit us to send it to the president and he signs it and we solve the problem. the presiding officer: the senator from iowa. mr. harkin: mr. president, while appreciate the compliments he and the minority leader has in senator enzi's and my ability to...
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Nov 15, 2012
11/12
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at the time, president obama made what i thought was a perfectly sensible observation. he said in 2010, with the economy growing so slowly, with economic growth down around 3%, which was producing high unemployment because the economy wasn't growing fast enough, he said, it makes no sense to raise taxes during that kind of pro jill economic recovery. -- fragile economic recovery. which makes me wonder what has changed between now and 2010 except for the fact that economic growth is even slower, the economy is even worse today than it was in 2010. president obama has said, contrasted -- contrasted with what he said in 2010, he said, raising taxes will help som sole our long-term debt problems. he says raising taxes will help us solve our long-term debt problems. but it's hard to take that argument seriously if you look at it closely. first, according to the president's own treasury department, tax increases he's advocating would generate about $85 billion a year in new net revenue. these tax increases would generate about $85 billion in new net revenue. by comparison, th
at the time, president obama made what i thought was a perfectly sensible observation. he said in 2010, with the economy growing so slowly, with economic growth down around 3%, which was producing high unemployment because the economy wasn't growing fast enough, he said, it makes no sense to raise taxes during that kind of pro jill economic recovery. -- fragile economic recovery. which makes me wonder what has changed between now and 2010 except for the fact that economic growth is even slower,...